WDYTYA? Series 14 News!
It seems like only recently did we watch the final episode of series 13; a series so spread out that the BBC seemed to have learned their lesson and moved it back to it's original spot! Well kind of... The next series will start on Thursday 6th July but instead of it broadcasting at 8pm, the BBC have pushed it back an hour later to 9pm. However, the BBC are sticking to showing the series in 2 5-episode blocks. The BBC have kept this very secret and parts of the series are said to have only been filmed as recently as the 14th June.
They have also named the 10 celebrities on this years series. They are:
Adil Ray: Best known for his portrayal as Citizen Khan - a BBC series, of the same name, which he is also the writer and creator of. He was born in Birmingham to a Pakistani father and a Kenyan mother. He will be focusing on his mother's roots, specifically those of his grandfather, an Indian businessman, and his wife - who is rumoured to be related to a Ugandan king! This episode will be shown on the 27th July.
Charles Dance: Also an actor, he is best known for playing Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones but is also known for playing bureaucrats and villains. He was born in Redditch to Walter Dance, an engineer who died when Charles was only 4, and his wife Eleanor (née Perks) who was a cook. His research will particularly focus on his paternal side and takes him to the over side of the world to meet long lost relatives. Charles will be kicking off the series on the 6th July.
Clare Balding: A TV sports presenter for the BBC, BT Sport and Channel 4. She was born in Chiswick to quite a wealthy family, her father, Ian Balding is a retired horse trainer, born in the US, and his wife Emma Hastings-Brass, the daughter of another horse trainer, Peter Hastings-Brass - who's grandfather, Francis Hastings was the 14th Earl of Huntingdon. She will be focusing her research on her great grandfather Sir Malcom Bullock and later onto her wealthy paternal grandmother, Eleanor Hoagland's, family. She is descended from William the Conqueror but it seems as though they will not focus on that line. This will be the third episode of the series and shown on the 20th July.
Craig Revel Horwood: An Australian-British dancer, best known for being a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. He was born in Australia to Australian parents. His father, Phil Revel Horwood, was in the Australian Navy but was an alcoholic who nearly shot many members of his family, but he did mourn his father's passing in 2015 so this probably won't stop him from researching his paternal side. He will discover he is not the first dancer in the family. This will be the second episode of the series and will be broadcasted on the 13th July.
Emma Willis: A former model and now TV presenter for Channel 5's Big Brother. She was born in Birmingham to Stephen Griffiths and Catherine née Clougher. She will be researching into her Birmingham and Irish roots. In Ireland, she will discover an ancestor with violent and disturbing tendencies on her mother's side of the family. Contrastly, she will also be inspired by the determination of another ancestor. This will be the final episode in the first 5 episode block.
Fearne Cotton: A TV and radio broadcaster. Born in London, to Mick Cotton, a sign-writer for events such as Live Aid, and Lyn née Savage, who worked in alternative therapy. No details about her episosde have been revealed so we will have to wait and see who she researches...
Lisa Hammond: An actress best known for playing Donna Yates in BBC's EastEnders. Although she was born in Chichester, West Sussex, she considers herself as a Londoner to the core. She was born to Jonathan Haga-Hammond and Linda née Boone. Considering that she believes she's a through-and-through Londoner; she is shocked to discover that she is the descendant of rural Welsh gentry!
Lulu (Kennedy-Cairns): A Scottish singer-songwriter, best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1969. She was born in Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire to Eddie Lawrie and Betty née McDonald. Her father, who she describes as a better singer than her struggled from alcoholism and was the eldest child and therefore had responsibilities. His father was also an alcoholic so this could be a very interesting episode.
Noel Clarke: Best known for playing Micky Smith in Doctor Who back in 2005 and 2006. He was born to Trinidadian parents, Alf Clarke, a carpenter and Gemma who was a nurse. His father left Noel's mother shortly after he was born. Noel traces his roots to slavery in the Caribbean.
Ruby Wax: An American actress and comedian. Born in Illinois, USA to Edward Wachs, a wealthy sausage manufacturer, and his wife Bertha. They were both Austrian Jews who fled to the US because of the Nazi threat. She has wanted to be on the show for some time and even rang them up years ago to be on the show. However, she says that the BBC responded saying that they had shown the Holocaust a lot. The BBC dispute this. Finally, Ruby has been given a chance to be on the show.
Hopefully, we will see the celebrities researching themselves rather than being handed to them on a silver platter. I will write a review of this year's series like I did with the last two.
Published: 24 June 2017
They have also named the 10 celebrities on this years series. They are:
Adil Ray: Best known for his portrayal as Citizen Khan - a BBC series, of the same name, which he is also the writer and creator of. He was born in Birmingham to a Pakistani father and a Kenyan mother. He will be focusing on his mother's roots, specifically those of his grandfather, an Indian businessman, and his wife - who is rumoured to be related to a Ugandan king! This episode will be shown on the 27th July.
Charles Dance: Also an actor, he is best known for playing Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones but is also known for playing bureaucrats and villains. He was born in Redditch to Walter Dance, an engineer who died when Charles was only 4, and his wife Eleanor (née Perks) who was a cook. His research will particularly focus on his paternal side and takes him to the over side of the world to meet long lost relatives. Charles will be kicking off the series on the 6th July.
Clare Balding: A TV sports presenter for the BBC, BT Sport and Channel 4. She was born in Chiswick to quite a wealthy family, her father, Ian Balding is a retired horse trainer, born in the US, and his wife Emma Hastings-Brass, the daughter of another horse trainer, Peter Hastings-Brass - who's grandfather, Francis Hastings was the 14th Earl of Huntingdon. She will be focusing her research on her great grandfather Sir Malcom Bullock and later onto her wealthy paternal grandmother, Eleanor Hoagland's, family. She is descended from William the Conqueror but it seems as though they will not focus on that line. This will be the third episode of the series and shown on the 20th July.
Craig Revel Horwood: An Australian-British dancer, best known for being a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. He was born in Australia to Australian parents. His father, Phil Revel Horwood, was in the Australian Navy but was an alcoholic who nearly shot many members of his family, but he did mourn his father's passing in 2015 so this probably won't stop him from researching his paternal side. He will discover he is not the first dancer in the family. This will be the second episode of the series and will be broadcasted on the 13th July.
Emma Willis: A former model and now TV presenter for Channel 5's Big Brother. She was born in Birmingham to Stephen Griffiths and Catherine née Clougher. She will be researching into her Birmingham and Irish roots. In Ireland, she will discover an ancestor with violent and disturbing tendencies on her mother's side of the family. Contrastly, she will also be inspired by the determination of another ancestor. This will be the final episode in the first 5 episode block.
Fearne Cotton: A TV and radio broadcaster. Born in London, to Mick Cotton, a sign-writer for events such as Live Aid, and Lyn née Savage, who worked in alternative therapy. No details about her episosde have been revealed so we will have to wait and see who she researches...
Lisa Hammond: An actress best known for playing Donna Yates in BBC's EastEnders. Although she was born in Chichester, West Sussex, she considers herself as a Londoner to the core. She was born to Jonathan Haga-Hammond and Linda née Boone. Considering that she believes she's a through-and-through Londoner; she is shocked to discover that she is the descendant of rural Welsh gentry!
Lulu (Kennedy-Cairns): A Scottish singer-songwriter, best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1969. She was born in Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire to Eddie Lawrie and Betty née McDonald. Her father, who she describes as a better singer than her struggled from alcoholism and was the eldest child and therefore had responsibilities. His father was also an alcoholic so this could be a very interesting episode.
Noel Clarke: Best known for playing Micky Smith in Doctor Who back in 2005 and 2006. He was born to Trinidadian parents, Alf Clarke, a carpenter and Gemma who was a nurse. His father left Noel's mother shortly after he was born. Noel traces his roots to slavery in the Caribbean.
Ruby Wax: An American actress and comedian. Born in Illinois, USA to Edward Wachs, a wealthy sausage manufacturer, and his wife Bertha. They were both Austrian Jews who fled to the US because of the Nazi threat. She has wanted to be on the show for some time and even rang them up years ago to be on the show. However, she says that the BBC responded saying that they had shown the Holocaust a lot. The BBC dispute this. Finally, Ruby has been given a chance to be on the show.
Hopefully, we will see the celebrities researching themselves rather than being handed to them on a silver platter. I will write a review of this year's series like I did with the last two.
Published: 24 June 2017
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